What does the Ford Foundation do?

We are an independent global organization that protects and strengthens the democratic values, fundamental freedoms, and inclusive economies that empower people to shape their own futures. For 90 years, we have promoted human dignity, human rights, and human achievement by supporting leaders, ideas, and organizations on the front lines of social change. 

We are a social justice foundation. Our legacy demands our unwavering commitment to people pushed to the margins and denied equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity–to women, to people of color and people with disabilities, to LGBTQ+ and rural communities.

And we believe in the power of representation and agency, which flows from this core conviction. Everyone deserves a voice in shaping the rules and tools with which to build better lives and stronger communities.

Today, with an $18 billion endowment, we are headquartered in New York and have regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

How will Ford direct its funding going forward?

We will direct our resources to support the preconditions necessary for democracies to thrive. We have refocused our institutional mission to protect and strengthen democratic values, fundamental freedoms, and inclusive economies worldwide, so people are empowered to shape their futures.

To serve this mission, we will focus on seven key areas of work: 

1. Protecting democratic governance and the rule of law
2. Building just and inclusive economies
3. Defending information as a public good
4. Securing safety, justice, and fairness
5. Accelerating gender equality
6. Fostering global cooperation 
7. Advancing racial justice 

These funding priorities emerge directly from those commitments. The foundation’s deep, decades-long and ongoing support for social justice and marginalized communities will be embedded across all seven new areas–bringing this work to scale across all of our grantmaking. 

To learn more about the new strategy and how it is connected to our historic work, read the How We Meet This Moment report.

How was the strategy developed?

The strategic review process was led by our executive leadership team, who have a deep knowledge of our mission and strengths. The executive leadership team took a hard look at all our work, the unprecedented nature of this moment, and the strain on democratic values around the world. They examined our history during extraordinary times and thought hard about how to innovate to meet this moment. They reviewed every element of our work to identify seven new areas of work focused on the fundamental preconditions necessary for democracy to thrive. 

When will the individual strategies for each area of work be shared and implemented?

Each strategy will be launched on a rolling basis over the course of 2027.

In January 2027, grantmaking staff across the foundation will shift to three functional units focused on strategy design, transitional grantmaking, and responsible sunsetting of areas of work. 

This will allow us to support our mission and grantees at this crucial moment, enable our grantmaking staff to develop full strategies more quickly, ensure ongoing grantmaking continues, and responsibly sunset other areas of work. 

How is this strategy different from Ford Foundation’s previous work?

This is an evolution of our work over the years. We are building on existing strengths, reshaping approaches to meet the current moment, and we are committed to innovating wherever needed. 

We continue to focus our efforts where they will have the greatest impact, which naturally means making hard choices. In those instances, we will sunset areas of work with care, respect, and generosity. 

What is the role of social justice at the Ford Foundation under this new strategy?

We are – and will remain – a social justice organization. We remain deeply committed to ensuring that people – women, people of color and people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ and rural communities and others pushed to the margins – are not denied equal justice and economic opportunity, basic human rights, and dignity. Everyone should have a voice, be empowered to shape the rules that impact their lives, and have access to the tools to build better lives and stronger communities.

The foundation’s deep, decades-long commitment and ongoing support for social justice and marginalized communities will be embedded across all seven new areas of work–bringing this commitment to scale across all of our grantmaking. 

How do you define the most important issues of our time?

We’re all experiencing unprecedented geopolitical, economic, and societal change that is straining democratic values around the world. We examined the foundation’s history during prior extraordinary times to understand how we must focus our work on the preconditions for a thriving democracy, and continue innovating to meet this moment.

What will happen to the foundation’s commitments to the arts?

We have always funded artists and storytelling, and we will continue to do so as part of our grantmaking. We will continue to protect artistic freedom and continue to fund artistic work as a good neighbor in Detroit and New York. Finally, we will find new ways to support more sustainable financial models for artists and artistic institutions through our new innovation work. 

Why is Ford launching a racial justice fund? 

Advancing racial justice is a core commitment embedded across all of our work. Threading racial justice into each of our grantmaking areas allows us to deploy resources at a scale that simply wouldn’t be possible through a standalone program. The racial justice fund expands on this commitment. By embedding specialist staff directly within our program teams, we will ensure dedicated funds and expertise shape these efforts across all of our work—strengthening our impact for our sector and the communities we serve. 

What will happen to the foundation’s commitments to climate justice?

We are committed to climate justice and the communities most impacted by the climate crisis. Through our inclusive economies and global cooperation areas of work, we will be committed to ensuring that those communities have greater presence and an active role in the global and international forums where climate change is on the agenda – that they benefit directly from the promise of energy transitions, and have a voice in determining the pathways taken by those transitions. 

What will happen to the foundation’s commitments to disability rights?

We are proud to be a leader on disability rights and will remain focused on this critical work under our new strategy. Through our work, we have found that one of the most effective ways to advance disability rights is to tackle the issues that have kept the disability community from true equality. The Disability Credit Union is an example of how we are thinking about integrating our commitments to the disability community across all of our work. Specialist staff working within grantmaking teams will help shape and implement these efforts across all of our areas of work, with dedicated funds to help support these commitments and encourage cross-area grantmaking.

What will happen to the foundation’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of immigrants?

Attacks on the rights and dignity of immigrants subvert the rule of law in a well-functioning democracy. Supporting immigrants has long been core to supporting workers and will remain central to our work to build inclusive economies. This year, we significantly increased our funding to protect the rights and dignity of immigrants, and will continue and evolve these efforts.

Where will your work be focused geographically?

We will remain a global foundation, headquartered in the United States and spanning regions worldwide. Our work has never been a one-size-fits-all approach, and one of Ford’s great strengths is that our offices around the world are led and staffed by people from and with deep expertise in the regions where they operate. This undergirds our commitment to global cooperation. 

When will the new teams begin grantmaking?

We plan to complete strategy design, team formation, and begin implementation on a rolling basis through 2027. Our aim is to have all areas fully operational by the beginning of 2028. 

How can I apply for a grant? 

The majority of our grants are identified by the foundation, and each area of work will develop its own strategy and selection process in 2027. 

Our New York City Good Neighbor Committee accepts grant applications from local organizations. Applications are currently closed.